Caroline Flack shocked the world in 2019 when she stepped down as the host of Love Island. She said the reason was the allegations against her, explaining that she didn’t want her personal life to distract from the show. Tragically, just two months later, she died by suicide at the age of 40.
People have long wondered what really led to her death. Was it the allegations made by her then-boyfriend, tennis player Lewis Burton? Or was it the heartbreak of not being able to work in the job she loved, which affected her mental health? Five years later, these questions are coming up again. In November 2025, Hulu released a two-part docuseries called Caroline Flack: Search for the Truth, exploring the events that led to her death.
According to the Poplar Coroner’s Court, Caroline died by suicide in 2020. The autopsy confirmed the cause of death as suspension by ligature. Paramedics tried to save her, but their efforts failed. Hassell, speaking to The Independent, said that as Caroline became more famous, the difficulties in her life also grew. She had to deal with the media in ways most people never do.
Caroline’s final months were full of controversy. In December 2019, her boyfriend, Lewis Burton, accused her of assault. The docuseries says the incident began when Caroline saw a text from another woman on Burton’s phone. When she confronted him, she hit him with the phone, causing a minor head injury. At first, the Crown Prosecution Service didn’t want to press charges because Burton didn’t support the allegation. But a police detective appealed, and Caroline was charged later that month. Burton later said he never thought she hit him and was upset he couldn’t protect her.
Her friends were deeply worried about her mental state. The night before her court hearing, Caroline reportedly drank heavily and took pills. Her friend Molliw Grosberg said they had to force her to vomit and that she was completely out of it. Grosberg feared for her life, sensing how fragile Caroline had become.
Caroline died in her apartment in Stoke Newington, London. Paramedics had been called the night before and performed a clinical assessment, deciding she could stay at home. Sadly, the next day she passed away. A spokesperson said the assessment was confidential and no further details could be shared.
Her death sparked sadness and outrage. Many, including her family, called it a preventable tragedy. Caroline’s mother and twin sister told the court they believed she had been treated unfairly because she was a celebrity. However, after investigations by the CPS and Metropolitan Police, it was concluded in March 2020 that the case had been handled appropriately.
So why did Hulu release a docuseries five years later? The goal isn’t to answer why she died, but to show how it happened. Caroline herself wanted her story told. She had spoken to Curious Films about making a documentary to clear her name and protect her reputation. Producers Christian Collerton and Sophie Clayton-Payne told Vanity Fair that Caroline wanted her voice to be heard and her story told authentically.
The series now allows viewers to see her side of the story and reflect on the pressures she faced. It is a reminder of the human struggles behind fame and the importance of understanding mental health.